Jottings

by J. Miller | Category: Jottings | May 1944

Daniel was carried off to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar in the third year of Jehoiakim, king of Judah. He was then but a youth, probably in his early teens.

Was one of a choice number of youths who were of the seed royal and nobles of the children of Israel, who were unblemished, well favoured, skilful in wisdom, cunning in knowledge and understanding science, such as had ability to stand before the king,; these were to be taught the learning and tongue of the Chaldeans, and were appointed a daily portion of the king's meat and of the royal wine. "But Daniel," we are told, "purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank" (Daniel 1. 8). This purpose of heart on Daniel's part laid the foundation of his future greatness. It is this God-fearing, God-honouring attitude of mind that is the fibre of noble characters. Early training had no doubt something to do with the formation of this youth of fixed purpose, but early training is not of itself all, there must be a certain greatness in the human soul itself.

Men in a sense are born, not made. It is said that what God leaves out, no man can supply. Much can be done by education, but there must be a mind to educate. Two lads with equal advantages start together; they have similar opportunities for advancement, but one goes much further and climbs much higher than the other. In one sense in the one it may be attributable to perseverance and patience, while the other is indolent and indifferent. But that in itself may not answer the problem of the success of the one and the failure of the other.

In two lads in their games at school, it is found that the one always beats the other. Why? Because the one has a better physique than the other; his limbs are stronger; his wind is better. Two girls start to learn music together, but the one out-distances the other. Why? Because the one is born with music in her, and the other is not musical. It is so n manifest what we are. Solomon says, "Even a child maketh himself known by his doings,

Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right"

(Proverbs 20.11).

Though he was a youth of purpose and had determined the course he intended to pursue, yet he dealt with the prince of the eunuchs with great wisdom It says that "he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself He "purposed" before God, but he requested before men His was no overbearing, adamant attitude before the prince of the eunuchs. He acted wisely. The Lord exhorted His disciples to be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves. Paul too exhorted the Colossians (chapter 4. 5) Walk in wisdom toward them that are without. It is most reprehensible, a loud, self assertive attitude, in any follower of Christ.

It is said of David in his youth, that he behaved himself wisely, and Saul set him over the men of war" (1 Samuel is. 5). Again it says, "David behaved himself wisely in all his ways." Then it adds, "And when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him." And Yet again we are told, "that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by" (verses 14, 15, 80).

To act wisely in no wise conflicts with holiness of life. Let no one seek to be proud of his holiness of life and so become monkish and awkward in his general bearing, one who is always irritating others.

Think well of Daniel's behaviour, and in the seemingly impossible situation m which he was, not wishing to give way one inch in his heart, yet seeking a way out in wisdom, and how "God made Daniel to find favour and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs"! We know not how God may work for us if we purpose to be faithful to Him. Let no one seek to accommodate his conscience, and think that divine deliverance comes in the way of giving up the truth.

Mark, in his account of the Transfiguration, tells us that "Jesus taketh with Him Peter, and James, and John, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: and He was transfigured before them" (Mark 9.2). Christ is the Saviour of the world, the Teacher of the multitude, but He is the Companion of the few. of the disciples "He appointed twelve that they might be with Him," and of that special number He took three" apart by themselves "that they might see what others were not privileged to behold. Such seasons are needed by us all, to be with the Lard apart by ourselves in private and secluded blessedness, when He may reveal Himself to us, not to our eyes, but to our hearts. Christ has. no place for ostentatious display. A fair show in the flesh is shrivelled up in the light of His presence. When the world invades the soul, spreading its baneful influence, when mere human wisdom would dominate the mind, and love of self enslave our heart's affections, the Lord would draw us away, apart by ourselves, and there reveal Himself afresh in a manner, perchance, that we have never known before.

Did not Peter, especially, need this experience in the loneliness of that high mountain ? Think of what is recorded in Mark 8.31-38! The Lord began to teach His disciples openly, that He "must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again." Christ's announcement of suffering, rejection and death totally eclipsed, in the mind of Peter, the glorious triumph contained in the words, "and after three days rise again." The complete rejection of Christ by the elders, the men responsible for the nation of Israel and all national action, by the chief priests, those who were responsible for the Temple and the divine service therein, and by the scribes, the teachers of the law, with whom rested largely the well-being of the nation from an educational standpoint, seemed to overwhelm Peter's lofty thoughts as to what was proper to his Master, whom he believed was, and confessed Him, but a few minutes before, to be the Christ, the Son of the living God. His own thoughts blinded his mind to the truth of Christ's words, and he took the Lord and "began to rebuke Him." How solemn! How awful! to rebuke One who was not only wise, but One who is "Wisdom," One into whose heart no foolish thought ever entered, for "the thought of foolishness is sin" (Proverbs 24.9). Was Peter's act to pass unnoticed? What would be the effect on the other disciples? What indeed would be the effect on the many "worldly-wisemen" who have arisen since and have taken upon themselves to criticise Christ? Christ is above criticism and rebuke! So we read, "But He turning about, and seeing Ills disciples, rebuked Peter, and saith, Get thee behind Me, Satan : for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men."

Never was a more trenchant rebuke administered. The Lord could see the sinister form of the evil one behind the mind of Peter. Satan would be an adversary in that path of suffering which it was the Lord's will to tread. Even the good, but misguided, intentions of Peter were to be used by Satan as an obstruction in the Lord's doing of the will of His Father. The Lord's rebuke had a salutary effect on the disciples, for never again did anyone of them presume to rebuke Him. But rebukes are not sufficient in themselves td build up a strong, robust faith. The revelation of the Lord to the heart has a value that nothing else can equal. Hence it was, that about eight days after, He took Peter, and James, and John to the mountain apart by themselves and showed them a little of His glory. May we too have the experience of being taken apart with Him.

"Apart with Thee, 0 Master!

Where the light of earthly glory dies."

In the quietude and holiness of His presence we may see His beauty, taste of His grace, learn His secrets, take on His likeness, and above all have our hearts drawn out to Him by the magnetic power of the affection He has for us.

J. Miller | May 1944
Jottings